U.S. patent number 8,402,958 [Application Number 12/545,305] was granted by the patent office on 2013-03-26 for toy dart magazine apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hasbro, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Meredith Brooks, Robert L. Brown, Fred D. Eddins, Raymond Aaron Mead, Robert Victor, Douglas C. Weiler. Invention is credited to Meredith Brooks, Robert L. Brown, Fred D. Eddins, Raymond Aaron Mead, Robert Victor, Douglas C. Weiler.
United States Patent |
8,402,958 |
Victor , et al. |
March 26, 2013 |
Toy dart magazine apparatus
Abstract
The wheel also includes an opening in the third portion leading
to a chamber in a hollow support of the wheel. A spring-biased knob
is mounted on a shaft that also mounts the wheel. Both the knob and
the wheel have axially align protrusions that may engage each other
to allow the wheel to be rotationally adjusted to correct any jam
or misalignment of the darts stored on the wheel. A flexible arm
and a pusher structure are also included with the magazine
apparatus and are connected to a constant force spring, where the
flexible arm and a portion of the constant force spring are lodged
in the chamber of the hollow support during a dart loading process
of the wheel, and the constant force spring uncoils when the wheel
is rotated during the loading process. The constant force spring
biases the wheel to feed the darts from both the drum and the clip
to a firing position at the end of the clip located in the
launcher, but the constant force spring is insufficient to
discharge the darts when the magazine is not connected to the
launcher.
Inventors: |
Victor; Robert (Sunnyside,
NY), Mead; Raymond Aaron (Pawtucket, RI), Brown; Robert
L. (North Kingstown, RI), Eddins; Fred D. (Mapleville,
RI), Brooks; Meredith (Attleboro, MA), Weiler; Douglas
C. (Bridgewater, MA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Victor; Robert
Mead; Raymond Aaron
Brown; Robert L.
Eddins; Fred D.
Brooks; Meredith
Weiler; Douglas C. |
Sunnyside
Pawtucket
North Kingstown
Mapleville
Attleboro
Bridgewater |
NY
RI
RI
RI
MA
MA |
US
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Hasbro, Inc. (Pawtucket,
RI)
|
Family
ID: |
43604282 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/545,305 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2009 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20110041823 A1 |
Feb 24, 2011 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/45; 124/48;
124/51.1; 89/33.02; 89/33.17; 124/52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A
9/73 (20130101); F41B 4/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F41A
9/61 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;124/45,48,51.1,52
;89/33.02,33.17 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Kim; Gene
Assistant Examiner: Niconovich; Alexander
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hoffman; Perry
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A toy dart magazine apparatus comprising: a housing having a
generally cylindrical portion and a generally tangentially mounted
elongated rectangular box portion, the rectangular box portion
having an open end for communicating with a dart launcher; an
alignment and storage wheel having peripheral dart recesses, the
alignment and storage wheel being rotationally mounted in the
housing and the wheel having a radially disposed chamber; a
constant force main spring connected to the housing; a flexible arm
having one end connected to one end of the constant force main
spring, the flexible arm being movable between the elongated
rectangular box portion of the housing and the chamber of the
alignment and storage wheel; a pusher structure connected to
another end of the flexible arm, the pusher structure being movable
between the elongated rectangular box and a peripheral dart recess
of the alignment and storage wheel, the pusher structure and
alignment and storage wheel being pushed around the housing as
darts are loaded into the elongated rectangular box portion of the
housing resulting in the constant force main spring being extended
from the connection of the main spring to the housing and the
constant force main spring biasing the alignment and storage wheel
and the darts into the elongated rectangular box portion of the
housing; and a knob structure connected to the housing and
selectively moveable for engaging the alignment and storage wheel
to enable rotational adjustment of the alignment and storage
wheel.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the alignment and storage
wheel includes a chamber extending generally radially for receiving
a portion of the main spring.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the knob is mounted to a
shaft, and the shaft also mounts the alignment and storage
structure; the knob includes a plurality of axially directed
protrusions; and the alignment and storage wheel includes a
plurality of axially directed protrusions, wherein when the knob is
moved axially, the plurality of protrusions included with the knob
engages with the plurality of protrusions included with the
alignment and storage structure.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, including: a second spring mounted to
the shaft for biasing the knob in an axial direction.
5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the alignment and storage
wheel includes three portions, two portions having the peripheral
dart recesses separated by a middle portion having a diameter less
than the diameters of the two portions having the peripheral dart
recesses.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein: the alignment and storage
wheel includes a fourth portion positioned adjoining one of the two
portions having the peripheral dart recesses, the fourth portion
having a diameter larger than the diameters of the two portions
having the peripheral dart recesses.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first housing portion
includes a circular wall with an opening for receiving the second
housing portion.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, including: a flexible arm pivotally
connected at one end to the main spring; and an engagement
structure pivotally connected to another end of the flexible
arm.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: each peripheral dart recess
has a recess depth to dart diameter ratio of about 1 to 2.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the alignment and storage
wheel includes a chamber extending generally radially for receiving
a portion of the main spring; the knob is mounted to a shaft, and
the shaft also mounts the alignment and storage wheel; the knob
includes a plurality of axially aligned protrusions; the alignment
and storage wheel includes a plurality of axially aligned
protrusions, wherein when the knob is moved axially the plurality
of protrusions included with the knob engages with the plurality of
protrusions included with the alignment and storage wheel; the knob
is biased in an axial direction by a second spring; the alignment
and storage wheel includes four portions, two portions having the
peripheral dart recesses separated by a middle portion having a
diameter less than the diameters of the two portions having the
peripheral dart recesses, and a fourth portion positioned adjoining
one of the two portions having the peripheral dart recesses, the
fourth portion having a diameter larger than the diameters of the
two portions having the peripheral dart recesses; and including a
flexible arm pivotally connected at one end to the main spring; and
an engagement structure pivotally connected to another end of the
flexible arm.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each peripheral dart recess
has a depth to dart diameter ratio of about 1 to 2.
12. A toy dart magazine apparatus comprising: a housing including;
a first housing portion, and a second housing portion connected to
the first housing portion; an alignment and storage structure
having peripheral dart recesses, the alignment and storage
structure being rotationally mounted to the housing; a main spring
mounted to the housing for biasing the alignment and storage
structure; an engagement structure for engaging the alignment and
storage structure and for engaging a dart; and a flexible arm
having first and second end portions, the first end portion being
pivotally connected to the main spring and the second end portion
being pivotally connected to the engagement structure.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 including: a knob structure connected
to the housing and selectively moveable for engaging the alignment
and storage structure to enable rotational adjustment of the
alignment and storage structure.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, including: a shaft mounted to the
housing; and a spring mounted to the shaft for biasing the knob in
an axial direction; and wherein the alignment and storage structure
is rotatably mounted to the shaft.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein: the knob is mounted to the
shaft and includes a plurality of protrusions; and the alignment
and storage structure includes a plurality of protrusions, wherein
when moved axially the knob engages the plurality of protrusions
included with the knob with the plurality of protrusions included
with the alignment and storage structure.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: the alignment and storage
structure includes four portions, two portions having peripheral
dart recesses separated by a portion having a diameter less than
the diameters of the two portions having the peripheral dart
recesses, and a fourth portion positioned adjoining one of the two
portions having the peripheral dart recesses, the fourth portion
having a diameter larger than the diameters of the two portions
having the peripheral dart recesses.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein: each peripheral dart recess
has a recess depth to dart diameter ratio of about 1 to 2.
18. A toy dart magazine apparatus comprising: a housing including;
a first housing portion, and a second housing portion connected to
the first housing portion; an alignment and storage structure
having peripheral dart recesses, the alignment and storage
structure being rotationally mounted to the housing; a main spring
mounted to the housing for biasing the alignment and storage
structure; an engagement structure for engaging the alignment and
storage structure and for engaging a dart; a flexible arm having
first and second end portions, the first end portion being
pivotally connected to the main spring and the second end portion
being pivotally connected to the engagement structure; a knob
structure connected to the housing, the knob structure defining a
plurality of protrusions for engagement with the alignment and
storage structure to enable rotational adjustment of the alignment
and storage structure where the alignment and storage structure
includes a plurality of protrusions; a knob spring for biasing the
knob in an axial direction; and a shaft mounted to the housing with
the knob structure being mounted to the shaft, the knob spring
mounted to the shaft, and the alignment and storage structure
mounted to the shaft.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein: the alignment and storage
structure includes four portions, two portions having peripheral
dart recesses separated by a portion having a diameter less than
the diameters of the two portions having the peripheral dart
recesses, and a fourth portion positioned adjoining one of the two
portions having the peripheral dart recesses, the fourth portion
having a diameter larger than the diameters of the two portions
having the peripheral dart recesses where the knob engages the
plurality of protrusions included with the knob with the plurality
of protrusions included with the alignment and storage
structure.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each peripheral dart recess
is according to a recess depth to dart diameter ratio of 1 to 2.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a toy dart magazine
apparatus, and, more particularly, to a toy dart magazine apparatus
designed to mate with a toy launcher to simulate a rapid-fire
machine gun, where each toy dart is a foam dart or the like made of
a soft, spongy, cellular material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Toys are often created to have play value by simulating non-toy or
real items at an expense perceived as reasonable for a toy product.
Nevertheless, creating such toys is both difficult and expensive,
and many marketed toys are not commercially successful. Many toy
concepts do not even reach commercialization. The toy industry
develops new toys on a yearly basis and refreshes existing toys to
continue interest in the toys for different age groups or for a new
group of children reaching a certain age segment. As mentioned,
many times new or refreshed toys do not become marketing successes
or they never reach the marketplace. However, efforts continue to
be made because commercially successful toys are profitable.
Hasbro has created a line of toys where rapid-fire launchers
discharge or "shoot" soft, spongy, cellular darts at targets
selected by child operators or users of the launchers. The soft,
spongy, cellular material used for the darts has been and continues
to be used for many products and is generally known by consumers
under Hasbro's trademark NERF.
Magazine apparatus have been designed in the past as shown by
various earlier United States patents. These may be best reviewed
by dividing the patents into two categories, cartridge magazines to
be used with real guns, and magazines for toys products or paint
ball launchers. In the category of cartridge magazines for real
guns, U.S. Pat. No. 1,290,852 for an "Automatic Gas Operated
Firearm" issued to Sturgeon in 1919, purports to disclose a
sprocket wheel and a spiral spring for feeding cartridges from a
continuous belt. U.S. Pat. No. 2,777,235 to Hopkins issued in 1957,
entitled "Firearm Magazine With Negator Coil Springs" purports to
illustrate two coiled ribbon springs 21, 22 for biasing a follower
28 upwardly to push against cartridges 34, 36 causing them to exit
through a port 20. U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,954 for a "Extended Capacity
Cartridge Magazine Structure" issued to Hausmann in 1978, purports
to illustrate the use of a negator spring 25, FIGS. 1-6, attached
to a follower 20 that biases cartridges 15 to a dispenser opening
12 in a "banana" shaped magazine. In FIG. 14, there is illustrated
two negator springs 99, 107, also called "spirally wound springs,"
connected, respectively, to two followers 97, 105. The spring 99
biases cartridges 100 in the drum section of the magazine toward
the straight section of the magazine, and a spring 107 biases
cartridges 200 in the straight section of the magazine. U.S. Pat.
No. 4,384,508 to Sullivan and Waterfield issued in 1983 for a "Drum
Magazine For A Gun" purports to illustrate a drum magazine with
three sprockets 42, 43, 44, FIG. 6, biased by a "sheet metal
clock-type torsion spring 46," FIGS. 3A, 4 and 5A, to bias
cartridges C in a magazine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,626 issued in 1985 to Bartoiles for a "Primer
Cartridge Magazine For A Wedge-Type Breech Block" purports to
disclose use of a tension band to indicate a count of cartridges
stored in a cartridge magazine. U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,828 issued for
a "Constant Force Spring For Cartridge Magazines" in 1989 to
Dieringer et al., purports to disclose a constant force spring and
a follower for lifting a stack of cartridges to a gun where the
spring includes an anti-curl feature. U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,251
issued in 1991 to Lilley for an "Airgun Magazine" purports to
disclose a circular pellet carrier with a coil spring that biases
the pellet carrier for loading the pellets into a gun.
In the category of magazines for toy guns and paint projectile
launchers, U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,252 issued in 2000 to Stevens for a
"Projectile Feed System" purports to disclose an apparatus for
feeding paint balls to a paint ball gun. Paint balls are received
in pockets around the a periphery of a carrier, and rotation of the
carrier moves the paint balls into contact with a guide assembly
for directing the paint balls to the gun. U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,837
issued in 2002 to Johnson et al., for a "Toy Gun With Magazine"
purports to disclose a magazine with an internal indexing wheel
having an annular array of divider walls, where the magazine is
operated pneumatically to position a projectile and then uses a
coiled spring to return the magazine to an original position.
A U.S. Publication No. 2006/0180134 published in 2006 and listing
Illuzzi as inventor for a "Combination Solid Projectile And
Paintball Gun, And Solid Projectile Adapter For Paintball Gun"
purports to disclose a number of different shaped magazines and
different shaped projectiles for feeding a gun by compressed gas.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,619 for a "Device For Storing Projectile Balls
And Feeding Them Into The Projectile Chamber Of A Hand Gun" issued
in 2007 to Andresen, purports to disclose a paint ball feeding
device with a feeder having feeder chambers and being driven by an
electric motor with a slip clutch. An earlier patent listing the
same inventor, Andresen, U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,953, purports to
disclose a structure similar to the first mentioned Andresen
patent. A slightly later patent again listing the same inventor,
Andresen, U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,456, entitled "Device For Feeding
Balls Into The Ball Chamber Of A Handgun," purports to disclose the
same structure as shown in his earlier U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,619.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,357,130 for a "Spring-Assisted Paintball Loader"
issued in 2008 to Broersma purports to disclose a paintball loader
having a motor driven spinning spool and a spiral spring to avoid
"dry firing" when the spool is not being driven.
These disclosures, while interesting, do not disclose a toy dart
magazine that is useful and cost effective for a toy, especially
for a toy operating with soft darts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an advantageous apparatus
and a process is provided in the form of a toy dart magazine that
is especially designed to mate with a toy dart launcher. One
described embodiment includes a toy dart magazine apparatus which
aligns and stores foam or cellular material darts, e.g. NERF.TM.
brand darts where the dart magazine apparatus is formed to engage a
toy launcher such as a NERF N-STRIKE VULCAN EBF-25 BLASTER.TM., a
product marketed by Hasbro.TM.. Advantages of the toy dart magazine
are that the magazine is simply constructed, structurally robust
and reliably manufactured. The magazine apparatus is able to handle
the solid but spongy cellular material that forms many elements of
NERF products. The unique dart magazine structure features a
combination drum and clip arrangement where movement of the darts
in the magazine, during both a loading operation and during
ejection when in combination with a launcher, is accomplished
smoothly and includes special structures to ease any jamming
problem.
The toy dart magazine apparatus includes a housing having a first
housing portion, and a second housing portion connected to the
first housing portion, an alignment and storage structure having
peripheral dart recesses, the alignment and storage structure being
rotationally mounted in the housing, a main spring connected to the
housing for biasing the alignment and storage structure and for
biasing darts located in the housing, and a knob structure
connected to the housing and selectively moveable for engaging the
alignment and storage structure to enable rotational adjustment of
the alignment and storage structure.
The apparatus and processes may also employ a flexible arm
pivotally connected to the main spring at one end and to a pusher
structure at the other end. A spring-biased knob is mounted on a
shaft that also mounts the wheel. Both the knob and the wheel have
axially align protrusions that may engage each other to allow the
wheel to be rotationally adjusted to correct any jam or
misalignment of the darts stored on the wheel. In a described
embodiment the flexible arm and a pusher structure are also
included with the magazine apparatus and are connected to a
constant force spring, where the flexible arm and a portion of the
constant force spring are lodged in the chamber of the hollow
support during a dart loading process of the wheel, and the
constant force spring uncoils when the wheel is rotated during the
loading process.
The constant force spring biases the wheel to feed the darts from
both the drum and the clip to a firing position at the end of the
clip located in the launcher, but the constant force spring is
insufficient to discharge the darts when the magazine is not
connected to the launcher. A method for configuring a toy dart
magazine apparatus includes the novel process of forming a housing,
forming an alignment and storage structure having peripheral
recesses for mounting darts, rotatably mounting the alignment and
storage structure in the housing, mounting a spring to the housing
and to the alignment and storage structure to bias the alignment
and storage structure, forming a knob, and mounting the knob to
selectively engage the alignment and storage structure to enable
the alignment and storage structure to be rotated manually.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention,
the accompanying drawings and description illustrate a preferred
embodiment thereof, from which the invention, its structures, its
construction and operation, its processes, and many related
advantages may be readily understood and appreciated.
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the
inventive toy dart magazine apparatus mounted to a toy
launcher.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged front isometric view of a dart formed of Nerf
material.
FIG. 3 is a rear isometric view of the dart shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the magazine apparatus in an empty
condition.
FIG. 5 is an exploded isometric view of the magazine apparatus
shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a sectional isometric view of a clip portion of the
magazine apparatus without any loaded darts.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged exploded isometric view of a wheel structure,
shaft, knob and spring of the magazine.
FIG. 8 is a sectional isometric view of the magazine apparatus
fully loaded with darts.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the knob taken along line 9-9 of FIG.
7.
FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view of the knob.
FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the wheel structure taken within the
circle 11-11 in FIG. 7.
FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a method for configuring the toy dart
magazine apparatus.
FIG. 13 is a sectional isometric view of the magazine apparatus
showing the clip portion loaded with one dart.
FIG. 14 is a sectional isometric view of the magazine apparatus
showing the clip portion loaded with seven darts, and a pusher
structure almost in contact with a pair of recesses of the wheel
structure.
FIG. 15 is a sectional isometric view of the magazine apparatus
showing more loaded darts, and the pusher structure in contact with
one pair of recesses of the wheel structure.
FIG. 16 is a sectional isometric view of the magazine apparatus
showing still more loaded darts, the pusher structure in contact
with two pairs of recesses of the wheel structure, and one dart in
contact with the next pair of recesses of the wheel structure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following description is provided to enable those skilled in
the art to make and use the described embodiment set forth in the
best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. Various
modifications, equivalents, variations, and alternatives, however,
will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Any and
all such modifications, variations, equivalents, and alternatives
are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
Referring now to the Figures, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is illustrate
an embodiment of the invention in the form of a toy dart magazine
apparatus 10 shown mounted to a toy dart launcher 12, similar to a
launcher marketed by Hasbro.TM. under the brand NERF N-STRIKE
VULCAN EBF-25 BLASTER.TM.. The dart launcher 12 simulates a
stylized machine gun and the dart magazine 10 simulates a cartridge
magazine for the dart launcher. The magazine is constructed to
store and align darts and then feed the darts, such as the dart 14,
to a position for the dart launcher to discharge. Each dart 14 is
formed of a solid, spongy cellular material produced generally by
the reaction of polyester with a diisocyanate while carbon dioxide
is liberated by the reaction of a carboxyl with the isocyanate. The
carbon dioxide gas creates open pockets within the polyurethane
that makes the material soft and light. The solid, spongy cellular
material is used in a number of products marketed by Hasbro under
the NERF brand including foam or cellular material darts. In the
alternative, other soft material may be used with the magazine and
launcher described here. The dart includes a simulated shell
portion 16 and a simulated bullet portion 18.
The major elements of the dart magazine apparatus 10, FIGS. 4 and
5, include a first housing portion 20, which is formed of two
pieces, a base element 22 and a cover element 24, together often
called a drum, and a second housing portion 26, often called a
clip. Within the first or drum portion 20 is an alignment and
storage structure 28, often called a sprocket wheel, having aligned
pairs of peripheral dart recesses, such as the dart recesses 30,
32, and the wheel structure 28 is rotatably mounted to the drum
portion 20 on a shaft 34. A main spring 40, mounted to the clip
portion, operatively connected to the alignment and storage or
wheel structure 28 is used for biasing the wheel structure to feed
the darts 14, FIGS. 1 and 2, to the dart launcher 12. A knob
structure 42 is mounted to the shaft 34, and the knob structure 42
is axially moveable for selectively engaging the wheel structure 28
to enable rotational adjustment of the wheel structure whereby
misalignment and/or compression of a soft dart may be alleviated
and jamming of the magazine apparatus may be remedied, a major
feature of the magazine.
To allow easy loading of the darts through the clip portion 26 of
the magazine apparatus and into the drum portion 20, and to
maintain a biasing force on the loaded darts to move them smoothly
around the drum portion 20 back through the clip portion 26 and
into alignment with the launcher 12, the main spring 40 is
connected to a flexible arm 44, FIGS. 5 and 6, and the flexible arm
44 is connected to a pusher structure 46.
The base element 22, FIG. 5, of the drum portion 20 is formed in a
generally cylindrical shape and includes a circular outer wall 50
with spaced fastener sleeves, such as the fastener sleeve 52, and
an axially aligned opening 54 to receive and engage the clip
portion 26 of the magazine apparatus. The clip portion 26 is
attached to the drum portion 20 by sliding the clip portion over
the opening 54 and engaging complementary flanges on the two
structures. In the alternative, other structures may be used to
connect the clip portion to the drum portion, such as screws or
other fasteners. An end wall 56 encloses one end of the circular
wall 50 and the cover element 24 encloses the opposite end of the
circular wall 50. Along an inside surface 58 of the circular wall
50 is a ledge 60 indicating a thickening of the circular wall for
effectively reducing the inner diameter of the drum portion 20. The
end wall 56 includes a shaft sleeve 62 for engagement with and
mounting of the shaft 34.
The cover element 24 is also formed in a generally cylindrical
shape and includes a circular wall 70 with spaced short fastener
sleeves, such as the short fastener sleeve 72 that cooperates with
the fastener sleeve 52. Any suitable fastener may be used to attach
the cover element 24 to the base element 22, such as small screws
(not shown). One end of the cover circular wall 70 is open and an
opposite end includes a wall 74 with a central circular opening 76.
Surrounding the opening 76 is a circular flange 78. A pair of
tubular elements 80, 82 are connected to the circular flange 78 and
extend axially. The cover element includes an axially aligned
opening 84 in the circular wall 70 that aligns with the opening 54
of the base element 22 and is also used for engaging the clip
portion 26.
The clip portion 26 is formed as an elongated rectangular box, open
at both ends. A first end 90 is configured to engage the drum
portion 20 through the axial openings 54, 84 in the circular walls
50, 70 of the drum portion, and a second end 92 provides an opening
to the magazine apparatus interior for loading and storing darts,
and is configured with two curved arms 94, 96 to confine the darts
loaded in the magazine apparatus and to align the darts relative to
the launcher. A lateral slot 98 is formed perpendicular to a
longitudinal axis of the clip portion. The lateral slot receives a
detent (not shown) of the launcher for mounting the magazine
apparatus 10 to the launcher 12, as shown in FIG. 1. Adjacent to
the first end 90 of the clip portion 26 is an attachment structure
100 for receiving a holder 102 for the main spring 40. Any suitable
material may be used for the drum and clip portions of the magazine
apparatus, such as a moldable synthetic resin.
The wheel structure 28, FIGS. 5 and 7, has a generally wheel-like
configuration with two spaced apart peripheral rim portions 110,
112 forming dart carrying recesses, such as the pair of recesses
30, 32, separated by a smooth middle portion 114. The middle
portion 114 is of a lesser diameter than the peripheral rim
portions 110, 112. An end wall portion 120 abuts the peripheral rim
portion 110 whereby a dart stored in a pair of aligned recesses is
maintained in proper alignment relative to the wheel structure and
to other darts. The darts are aligned and stored on the wheel
structure 28 in an axial direction, as shown in FIG. 8. The word
"axial" refers to a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal
centerline 122, drawn in FIG. 7.
Formed in the middle portion 114 of the wheel structure 28 is an
opening 124 that allows access to a chamber 126, FIG. 6, in a
radially askew hollow support 128. The chamber enables the flexible
arm 44 and an extended end portion of the main spring to be housed
during loading of the magazine apparatus with darts, as will be
explained in more detail below. A central axial opening 130 is
provided for the shaft 34 to allow the wheel structure 28 to be
rotatably mounted to the drum portion 20 of the magazine apparatus
10. Radially spaced about the axial opening 130 are a series of
protrusions, such as the protrusion 132, for engagement with the
knob 42 as will also be explained in greater detail below. The word
"radial" refers to a direction that is perpendicular to the
centerline 122. Any suitable material may be used for the wheel
structure 28, such as a moldable synthetic resin.
The shaft 34 may be configured as a metal rod 134, FIG. 7, and a
plastic cap 136. The metal rod insures smooth rotation of the wheel
structure 28, and the plastic cap 136 acts as a spring seat for one
end 140 of a second or knob spring 142 placed between the plastic
cap 136 and the knob 42 for biasing the knob in an axial direction.
The main spring 40, FIG. 5, is known as a constant force or negator
spring and is formed of a prestressed strip of flat spring stock
coiled tightly around a bushing or around successive layers of
itself in a manner very similar to a common household tape measure.
When an exposed or extended end portion 144 of the main spring 40
is extended or uncoiled, the pre-stressed strip flattens itself to
store energy, whereby a force is created having a tendency to
recoil the spring. However, this force does not generally increase
as the end portion 144 is extended further away from the coiled
portion of the main spring. The constant force main spring 40 is
very useful for maintaining a rotational biasing force on the wheel
structure 28 when the wheel structure is loaded with darts. The
main spring 40 is used to bias the wheel structure 28 from a
dart-loaded condition as shown in FIG. 8 to a dart unloaded
condition as shown in FIG. 6. Another feature of the magazine
apparatus is that multiple darts may be correctly positioned in the
launcher without the necessity of a motor and batteries.
The knob 42, FIGS. 7, 9 and 10, includes an outer handle portion
150 and two flange portions 152, 154, each flange extending less
than half way around the knob, about one hundred and ten degrees,
so as to leave two openings 156, 158, each extending about seventy
degrees. Each of the two openings 156, 158 between the flange
portions 152, 154 receives one of the tubular elements 80, 82, FIG.
5, of the cover element 24 to prevent rotation of the knob beyond a
predetermined distance because the flange portions and the tubular
elements will abut each other after a limited rotation of the knob.
An inner side 160 of the knob 42 includes a circular pattern of
protrusions, such as the protrusion 162, that are intended to
engage the wheel structure protrusions, such as the protrusion 132,
FIG. 7. The inner side 160 of the knob also includes a spring seat
164 for a second end 166 of the knob spring 142.
Usually, the protrusions 132, 162 of the knob and of the wheel
structure are kept out of engagement with one another by the knob
spring 142. However, because the Nerf darts are of a very soft
material, they are easily compressed and may become distorted,
unlike metal cartridges that are self supporting, such that when a
dart falls out of proper alignment in the magazine apparatus 10 and
is compressed and/or distorted, an operator or user of the magazine
apparatus is able to push the knob 42 inwardly against the force of
the knob spring 142 and engage the two sets of protrusions. By
giggling the knob back and forth, the user is able to momentarily
override the biasing force of the main spring, and the nonaligned
dart is likely to properly seat or reseat itself in a pair of
recesses where the dart is supposed to be located. This rotational
adjustment feature is very advantageous because of the nature of
the soft darts being handled by the wheel structure. The knob may
be made of any suitable material, such as a synthetic resin.
The flexible arm 44 is pivotally connected at one end portion 170,
FIG. 6, to the main spring 40, and at the other end portion 172,
the flexible arm is pivotally connected to the pusher structure 46.
The flexible arm is configured to flex as the wheel structure is
rotated, during which darts are added to or removed from the wheel
structure. The flexible arm 44 is configured to also move into the
clip portion 26 of the magazine apparatus, as shown in FIG. 6,
while under the continuing influence of the biasing force of the
main spring 40. The flexible arm 44 also has a slight biasing force
of its own to help push the darts to the curved arms 94, 96 when
the flexible arm enters the clip portion 26, as shown in FIGS. 6
and 13. An advantage of the flexible arm is that it allows the
magazine apparatus to operate using only one main spring, whereas
other magazine devices having both drum and clip portions use two
or more springs to generate the proper biasing force on the stored
darts throughout a magazine emptying process.
The pusher structure 46 is configured as two generally cylindrical
elements, a trailing element 180, and a leading element 182, FIG.
6, connected to one another or molded together, and they somewhat
resemble two darts that fit into two adjoining pairs of recesses,
such as the two pairs of recesses 184, 186, FIG. 8, of the wheel
structure 28 when the wheel structure is being loaded with darts,
as shown in FIG. 15. The pusher structure 46 is also configured to
move within both the drum and the clip portions. When the magazine
apparatus is filled with darts, the pusher structure occupies the
last two pairs of recesses in the drum portion and also causes the
main spring 40 to be extended to its fullest extent in operation of
the magazine apparatus as seen in FIG. 8.
As the launcher is operated to discharge or "shoot" the darts,
other darts in the magazine apparatus are moved toward the launch
position continually so that they may be serially discharged, and
the pusher structure 46 moves smoothly as it transitions from the
drum portion 20 of the magazine apparatus to the clip portion 26 of
the magazine apparatus. A generally constant biasing force is
maintained on the darts in the magazine apparatus 10 during the
whole time darts are stored in the magazine apparatus, and until
the last dart is removed from the magazine apparatus by the
launcher 12. The arrangement just described provides a major
advantage of the magazine apparatus because of the simplicity of
its structure, its inexpensive design and its robust construction.
Any suitable material may be used for the flexible arm and the
pusher structure, such as a moldable synthetic resin.
Another major advantage of the wheel structure, as shown in FIG.
11, is that each recess is configured to maintain it respective
stored dart in axial alignment and insulated from any distorting
force. Each recess, such as the recess 190, has a depth from bottom
to top of about 0.25 inches/6.31 millimeters and a recess width of
about 0.55 inches/13.86 millimeters. The diameter of each dart is
about 0.50 inches/12.6 millimeters. The combination of the recess
dimensions, the diameter of the wheel structure, about 5.42
inches/13.7 millimeters, and the inner diameter of the ledge of the
drum portion, about 5.94/15 millimeters, helps insure that each
dart remains seated in a pair of recesses until that dart is
directed into the clip portion of the magazine apparatus. The ratio
of recess depth to dart diameter is about 1 to 2.
A method for configuring the toy dart magazine apparatus includes
forming 200, FIG. 12, the housing drum and clip portions 20, 26 and
forming 202 the wheel structure 28. The wheel structure 28 is
rotatably mounted 204 in the housing. The main spring 40 is mounted
to the housing and operatively connected 206 to the wheel
structure. The main spring is pivotally mounting to the one end 170
of the flexible arm 44, and the other end 172 of the flexible arm
is pivotally connected to the dart engagement or pusher structure
46 to enable the pusher structure, flexible arm and main spring to
bias the wheel structure when it is loaded with darts. The knob 42
is formed 208 and mounted 210 to the shaft 34 to selectively engage
the wheel structure by way of the two sets of protrusions 132, 162,
one set of protrusions 162 on the knob and the other set of
protrusions 132 on the wheel structure.
The knob is spring mounted so that a user may selectively push the
knob axially inward to engage the two sets of protrusions allowing
the user to twist the knob and thereby rotate the wheel structure;
otherwise, the knob spring 142 biases the knob protrusions away
from, and out of engagement with, the wheel structure protrusion.
When the two sets of protrusions are engaged, the user is able to
manually rotate the wheel structure slightly back and forth to
facilitate proper alignment of the darts on the wheel structure
peripheral recesses 30, 32 should one of the darts move out of
proper alignment with the wheel structure. The pusher structure 46
is configured to engage the peripheral dart recesses of the wheel
structure and thereby be in a position to cause the wheel structure
to be biased by the main spring.
Referring now to FIGS. 13-16, as well as to FIGS. 6 and 8, a user
of the magazine apparatus 10, when in operation, loads a plurality
of the darts 14 into the magazine one at time through the second
end portion 92 of the clip portion 26 of the magazine apparatus. An
empty magazine is shown in FIG. 6. As each dart is inserted into
the clip portion 26, the pusher structure 46 and the flexible arm
44 move left to right when viewed as in FIGS. 13 and 14, for
example. One inserted dart 218 is shown in FIG. 13. The pusher
structure 46 and the flexible arm 44 are mostly in the clip portion
26. However, the end portion 170 of the flexible arm and the
extended end 144 of the main spring are already located in the
chamber 126 of the hollow support 128. In FIG. 14, the clip portion
is shown almost filled with darts and the leading element 182 of
the pusher structure has engaged a pair of wheel structure recesses
220, and the flexible arm 44 has moved into the chamber 126 of the
hollow support 128. The addition of another dart to the clip
portion causes the trailing element 180 of the pusher structure to
also engage the wheel structure in another pair of recesses 222 as
shown in FIG. 15. Adding yet another dart to the clip portion
second end 92 results in the first loaded dart 218 engaging another
pair of recesses 224 of the wheel structure 28 as shown in FIG. 16.
Each successively loaded dart causes a dart at the right end of the
clip portion to engage the wheel structure 28 and rotate with the
wheel structure another approximately ten degrees.
Continued loading causes the pusher structure 46, engaged with the
two pairs of recesses 220, 222 to rotate with the wheel structure
in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 16. As the wheel
structure rotates, the main spring 40 uncoils and is disposed in
the middle portion 114 of the wheel structure. As the main spring
is extended, a biasing force, generally constant, is created having
a tendency to rotate the wheel structure in a counterclockwise
direction thereby causing the darts to move to the second end 92 of
the clip portion of the magazine apparatus. However, the darts do
not unload or exit the magazine apparatus by themselves because the
curved arms 94, 96 prevent such movement when the magazine
apparatus is not engaged with a launcher. Another feature of the
present invention is that a balance is achieved between the main
spring's biasing force on the one hand and dart friction at the end
of the clip portion on the other hand. When the magazine is full,
there are about thirty-five darts when the magazine apparatus has a
diameter of a little less than six and a half inches as shown in
FIG. 8. The uncoiled main spring extends from the end 144 up
through the chamber 126 of the hollow support 128, through the
opening 124, around the middle portion 114 of the wheel structure,
and back to the main spring holder 102.
The curved arms 94, 96 of the clip portion of the magazine
apparatus correctly position the darts for the launcher.
Thereafter, the magazine apparatus may be snapped-fitted into the
launcher so that the darts may be discharged. As each dart from the
magazine apparatus is discharged or fired by pneumatic means from
the launcher, the biasing force of the main spring 40 causes the
next dart in procession to be positioned between the curved arms
ready for launch. The biasing force, however, is not sufficient to
push the darts beyond the curved arms. The biasing force of the
main spring acts on the darts by way of the main spring's
connection to the flexible arm, the flexible arm's connection to
the pusher structure, and the pusher structure's engagement of two
pairs of peripheral recesses of the wheel structure. The main
spring rotates the wheel structure until the wheel structure is
empty of darts, and thereafter, the pusher structure acts directly
against the darts in the clip portion 26 of the magazine apparatus,
pushing the darts leftward toward the curved arms. The dart
unloading process is also exemplified by FIGS. 8 and 13-16, but in
reverse. It is to be noted that use of the main spring, the
flexible arm and the pusher structure allows for a smooth
transition of the darts as well as the pusher structure between the
clip and the drum portions of the magazine apparatus as darts are
added to or subtracted from the magazine structure. The elements of
the magazine apparatus are relatively simple, robust and
inexpensive where only one main spring is required for the magazine
system to operate. When the pusher structure reaches the end of the
clip portion, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the magazine apparatus is
empty and manual loading may begin again. In the alternative, the
magazine apparatus may be refilled with darts after discharging
only a portion of the loaded darts.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been provided
features for an improved toy dart magazine where the housing is
divided into a drum portion and a clip portion, with a wheel
structure rotatably mounted to the drum portion. The wheel has four
portions, two spaced apart portions having peripheral recesses for
receiving the darts and storing them until they are "fired" by a
launcher to which the dart magazine apparatus is mounted. A third
portion having a smooth circumference and a smaller diameter than
the two recess bearing portions wherein the third portion separates
the two spaced apart portions. The fourth portion of the wheel has
a larger diameter than the two recess bearing portions and is
positioned adjoining one of the two recess bearing portions for
aligning the darts relative to the wheel. The wheel also includes
an opening in the third portion leading to a chamber in a hollow
support of the wheel. The apparatus and processes may also employ
the described flexible arm pivotally connected to the main spring
at one end and to a pusher structure at the other end. While a
particular embodiment of the present invention have been shown and
described in detail, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art
that changes and modifications may be made without departing from
the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim is to
cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true
spirit and scope of the invention. The matters set forth in the
foregoing description and accompanying drawings are offered by way
of illustrations only and not as limitations. The actual scope of
the invention is to be defined by the subsequent claims when viewed
in their proper perspective based on prior art.
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